Nail-feeding mechanism



G. GODDU AND- F. L. MACKENZIE.

NAIL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1919.

1,408,451. PabentedMar- 7,1922.

i i-Wm i UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE. GODDU, OF WINCHESTER, AND FRED L. MACKENZIE, O1? BEVERLY, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED; SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF IPATER- SON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

NAIL-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed'May 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE GoDDU and FRED L. MaoKnNzIn, citizens of the United States, residing at lVinchester, in the county of Middlesex, and Beverly, in the county of Essex, respectively, and State. of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Nail-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures:

This invention pertains to nail feeding mechanism of the type usually employed in machines for inserting loose nails. Such machines commonly comprise a fastening receiving member having a passage in which a driver reciprocates and which is, open at one side to receive the nails from a raceway having a slot in which the nails are supported by their heads. The raceway is usually formed at its delivery end with lugs between which is interposed a separator by which the nails are delivered one by one from the raceway to the receiving member.

in order that the nails may be fed etliciently to the receiving member, it is necessary that the slot of the raceway be accurately aligned with the passage of said member and that the raceway be correctly positioned relatively to the separator, and it is desirable that these ends shall be attained without the exercise of excessive care in machining the raceway. It is also customary to providea cover plate over the slot of the raceway to preclude the escape of thenails from the raceway.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved raceway construction and to, provide improved supporting and adjusting means for such racmvaysand their cover plates. Tothis end, an important feature of the invention consists in the provision of connections between the raceway and its supporting means spaced longitudinally of the raceway and constructed and arranged to permit vertical adjustment of the raceway relatively to its supporting means. As

shown. independent eccentric means are pro" .vided for adjusting the raceway at different points, and, in the illustrated construction also, such means comprise eccentric sleeves constituting parts of the connections between the raceway and its supporting means.

In accordance with another feature of the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 31 *7 1922 1919. Serial No. 294,281.

invention, the cover plate is supported for verticaladjustment so that it may be disposed in proper relation to the raceway when the raceway is raised or lowered. This arrangement possesses the further advantage that adyustment ofthe cover'plate does not change the relation of the lower end of the justing the supporting means for the raceway and the coverplate so that such parts may be made to occupy any desired position relatively to the other elements of the ma chine without changing their positions with relation'to each other. v I

Heretofore, both the upper and lower lugs on the delivery end of the raceway have been formed integrally with the raceway. The upper lugs which conduct the nails from the raceway to the fastening receiving member are diflicult to machine inasmuch as they must be so formed as to possess the requisite strength and at the same time to permit the heads of the nails to approachas closely as possible to the upper part of the separator so that the separator will not turn the nails about their heads and will. thereby be enabled to introduce the nails properly into the passage of the fastening receiving member. 'Moreovcr, they are sometimes broken in use, in which case the entire raceway is rendered useless. In order to obviate the above objections, we provide detachable members on eithertlie fastening receiving member or the raceway for conducting the nails from the raceway to the fastening receiving member. For the purposes of this invention, such members are preferably'pro vided on the raceway and, in the present instance of the invention, they are formed as plates extending beyond the delivery end of the raceway. i

Although the invention will be described herein as embodied in a machine for inserting loose nails, it is recognized that it is not limited in its application to such ma main shaft 21 of the machine.

chines, but may be used in machines of other kinds including those for performing operations of a difi'erent character on loose nails. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention shall not be limited except as re uired by the claims.

Sti 1 other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description p1'0- ceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig- 1 is a view in front elevation of the head of a fastening inserting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the raceway supporting and adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse cross-section through substantially the middle of the raceway supporting and adjusting mechanism;

rig. at is an exploded view of the raceway and the cover plate therefor;

Fig. 5 shows the removable tips at the delivery end of the raceway; and

Fig. 6 is aview of the delivery end of the raceway with one of the tips removed.

The invention is herein shown, by way of example, asembodied in a nailing machine of the type comprising a head 2 having shd ably mounted therein a driver bar d to which is clamped a' driver 6 reciprocable vertically in a passage of the driver guide 8 secured fixedly to the frame 2. The driver guide 8 constitutes a fastening receiving member and the passage of the guide'is open at one side to permit the nails to be driven to be successively introduced therein from whence they drop into the nail passageot a threat 1.0. The throat 10 is withdrawn rearwardly of the machine intermediate between consecutive nail inserting operations to permit the work to be ted by an awl 12 carried by an awl bar 1% vertically slldable' in a groove formed in a slide 15 mounted 'ina' bracket.

iLGcarried by the frame 2. The slide 15 is reciprocated in a direction to teed the work by a lever 18 operated by a cam 20 on the to a raceway 29 slotted to receive them and having lugs or tips 30 and 32-at its delivery end designed to abut against the surface of the driver guide 8 at each side 01": the slot formed in said surface by the driver passage.

The slot of the raceway" 29 is adapted to align with the passage in the driver guide 8 and is overlain by a cover plate 33 which provents the escape of the nails from the raceway. The nails are moved one by one'from the raceway into the passageot the guide A support .8 by a separator 34 comprising parts operable between the end of the raceway and the driver guide above and below the lugs 30.

To the end thatthe nails may be conducted reliably and efliciently from'the raceway 29 to the driver guide 8 it is necessary that the slot of the raceway shall be accurately aligned with the passage of the driver guide and that the tips of the raceway shall abut properly against the contiguous surface of the guide and shall, moreover, be correctly disposed relatively to the separator 34. In order that the raceway 29 may be properly positioned at its delivery end and also with relation to t-hehopper 26 without the necessity for the exercise of excessive care in the machining of theraceway improved means is provided for adjusting the raceway. In the illustrated construction the raceway 29 is supported by upper and lower blocks 86 and'38 respectively having grooves in which are received the dove-tailed lugs and &2 on the raceway. The blocks 36 and 38 are split to permit endwise adjustment of the raceway'relatively thereto and are adapted to be clamped against the members 40 and 4:2 on the raceway by bolts 4A to securethe' raceway in adjusted position. It sometimes happens in the use of loose nailing machines of the type herein illustrated that the nails jam at the end of the raceway making it impossible for the separator to pass between them and precluding the proper delivery of the nails 'to the passage of the driver guide 8. In such a case it may be necessary to withdraw the raceway from the driver guide to allow the jammed nails to be removed. Vith this construction the withdrawal of the races way may be readily eilcctcd'attcr loosening the bolts 44;. i

The blocks 36 and 38 have reducedstuds 46 extending laterally therefrom and received in the outturned ends of a bracket 48. In order to provide-"for adjustment of the blocks 36 and 38 and consequently of the raceway 29 relatively to the bracket 48, the studs 46 ottheblocks are enclosed by eccentric sleeves 50 v rotatably mounted in the bracket 48 and preferably so formed as to facilitate their rotation by the operator. As shown, they are provided with spaced peripheral openings 52 adapted to receive a suitable tool and are fitted tightly into the bracket 48 in order that they may be retained in any position to which they may be moved. The raceway 29 may ho adjusted bodily tip-- wardly or downwardly or endwise by means of the eccentric sleeves 50 and the degree of inclination of the raceway may be varied by raising or lowering one end oft-he raceway without adjustmentot the other or by adjusting the ends of the raceway in opposite directions or to unequal degrees in the same direction.

To the end that the slot otthe raceway endwise in the eccentric sleeve 52, In the illustratedexemplification of the invention,

such means comprises a screw 5% threaded into an ear 56 upstanding from the bracket 18 and formed with. an el i'larged collar or flange 58 fitting between parallel lugs 60 on the block 38. Manittestl-y, rotation o'tthe screw 54:. will shift the delivery endot the raceway relatively to the slot oi? the driver guide. a I

The cover plate 33 at its lower end is preferably disposed close to the path ot movement of the driver so as to prevent'upward n'mvement of the nails at the delivery end of the acewagv. Maniitestly, also, it is neee. 'ary that thecover plat-e be adjusted accordingly when the raceway is raised or lowered. l njorder that the cover plate may be located as close as practicable to the path of movement of the driverwithout danger 0t its being interposed in the path oitmovement of the driver when it is a djusted, the plate 1S arranged for vertical adjustment parallel to the path of moyement ofthe' driver. To this endth'ecover plate is formed with a groove 61 arranged "obliquely of the plate at an angle such as to cause the groove to be disposed substantially vertically when the cover plate is inposition over the raceway.

The cover pl'atc f33 is preferably earried by the bracket 48, which, in the pres ent instance of the invention,. is provided with an upwardly extending portion 62 in which is mounted thereducedend of a stud the head 0t which has a rib G6 normally vertically disposed and fitting into 1 the gro ve 61 ot the cover plate." The plate 33 preferably secured to the studvGl by a/ screw or the like passing through a slot in the'eover plate iii'a'nd. threaded into the stud 64. The slot oi? the cover plate is elongated longitudinallyof thegroove 61 thereby permitting it to be moved bodilyupwardly or dmmivardly to conform with bodily up- \vardor downward a'dj ustnients ot the i'ace- WayQQ. in order thatthe cover plate may he hro lierly disposed relatively to the race via otter the inclination oi the raceway has been varied by an upwardor downward adjustment o't the ends of the raceway ,rela tively to each other. the stud 6% is mounted "For rotation inythe upwardly extendingporconcentric thereto, and the bracket is secured in adjusted position on the collar '76 by screws passing through the slots 78. The collar 76 in turn carriedrotatably by a stud 82 'n'ojecting laterally from a plate S t secured by bolts 86 ina groove formed in' the. bracket 27. The bolts 86 pass through bracket 4L8 on each side of the pin Tet and vertically elongated slots in the plateS-l. i

With this construction, theraceway may, if

desired, be bodily adjusted upwardly or ,i

downwardly bya single operation and wit-hout changing the relation. betweensthe race-' wayand the cover plate 33 by raisingor lowering the plate 84L 'oi'rth'e bracket 27. Moreover, theraceway and cover plate may be moved togetherlengthwise ot' the Stud 82 or maybe turned 'about the stud'S2 as a fulcrum being. maintained inadjusted position on saidstnd the bolt 88. Joint move ment oi the ra'ceway and cover plate trans versely oi the vertical planetot the raceway may he effected about the pin 74 as acenter. it i'nanitest from the foregoing, that the rat eway and cover plate may be adjusted as cireinnstanees attendant upon the operation oi the machine or the size or othercharacteristics:otthe nails may require. a

It is recognized that many of-the adv-air, tag-es of the-invention maybe obtained-without provision for an of the adj nstments herein provided'ior'. For example. such adjust ment asconldbe efiiectedi-it the bracket 48 were directly and rigidly connected to the hracliet 2'7 would probably he suttiicient'under some conditions of operationof the machine; Q I

."ieretotore, raceways have been construct ed with both the" upper and "lower tips tlorin'edintegrally with the raceway. Such construction of the raceway has provedsatls'tactoiy 1n the main. but it sometimes-happens that one or both of the upper tips is broken. for example, by reason of the jam-I which the nails are urged when engaged by the-separator may become so worn as tobe unfit iordnrther use. In either case. the entire racewayis rendered useless. Further more, it isnecess aryf in theconstruction. ot' the raceway that the upper tips be'm'achinod with'cmisiderable care thus adding to the trouble antlex'pense otn'ianufactnre.- In order to avoid th ese i disadvantages without sacrificing any of thejvirt ues of the former construction;,we make the upper tips 32 separate from theracewayf As shown. the raceway is recessed on each. side to' form shoulders 90, and the 'tips32'a1'e formed into x tegrallvwithplates 92- adapted to be secured 3 to the shoulders 9 O'by screws or the like 94,

' replaced.

- The plates 92 project beyond the end oi the raceway and are turned inwardly at 96 across the ends of the walls of the raceway, such inturned portions having their upper sur faces disposed. in alignment with the upper surfaces of the walls ot' the raceway. The plates can he manutactured cheaply and, ifthey are broken or worn, can be readily Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is 1..In amachine of the class described, a raceway for conducting nails supported from their heads in pendant relation to the raceray throughout the entire length. of the raceway, meai'is for rigidly supportingxthe race- 7 way, and eccentric means for adjusting the raceway relatively to its supporting means. 2. 111 a machine ofthe; class-described, a raceway for conducting nails supported from their heads in pendant relationto the raceway tillfOUgl'lOllt the entire length of the raceway, means for supporting the raceway, and eccentric'sleeves journalled in said supportsv ing means for adjusting. the raceway. i In a machine of the class described, a

raceway for conducting nails supported from.

theirlieads in pendant relation to the racewaythronghout the entire length of the raceway, supporting members thereforlrelatively to which the raceway is longitudinally adjustable, and eccentric 'means for adjusting saidsupporting members. 1

In a'inachineof.theclass descrilgieth-a raceway for, conducting nails supported from their heads in. pendant relation to the raceway throughout the entire length of theraceway, supporting members therefor relatively towhich. the raceway is longitudinally ad justable'and termed with shanks extending I supporting means.

iransyersely of the raceway, and rotatably mounted eccentric sleeves adapted to receive said shanks. I .r I

In a,machine the class described,

rigid raceway for; conductingheaded fastenings supported i romiheir headsin pendant relation to the raceway throughout the entire length oi? the raceway, means for supporting the raceway, and connections, be tween the raceway and the supPOrting means spaced longitudinally of the raceway and constructed and arranged to permit vertical adjustment of the raceway relatively to the 16. In a machine of the class described-a rigid inclined racewayfor conducting nails supported from their heads inpendant relation to the raceway throughout the entire length otthe raceway, and means forad justing one of the ends of the raceway independently of the other to vary the, inclinaiion of the raceway." i V 7. 111 a machine of theclass describecha rigid raceway, means Ifor supporting the of ,the raceway.

raceway, and connections between the raceway and the supporting means spacedlongitudinally ol: the raceway and comprising means for effecting both vertical" and longitudinal adjustment of the raceway; ,8. In :a machine of the class described a rigid raceway for conducting headed lasteningssupported from'the-ir head in pend- I raceway spaced" longitudinally of theraceway and relatively to which the raceway is longitudinally movable, and. means for ad justing one ofsaidsupporting members.

v 10. In a machine of the class described, a rigid raceway,supporting members for the raceway spaced longitudinally of the race way and. relatively to=which the raceway is longitudinally nio ablmand means for adjustingoneof said supporting members in either of two (lllGCiJlOIlS. i

11, Inga, machine ofwthe class (lQSCIlbBCl eccentric means for adjusting one of" said supporting members parallel to the plane of the raceway and means for adjusting said member in a direction transverse to the plane 12. In a; macl' a raceway, supporting meansflfor the raceway, and .co nectionsbetween thexsupporting means and theraceway atspaced points in opposite;directions.

13. In a -ma( :hine Otthe class described, a raceway, supportmggmeans for the raceway,

and connect ons between the supporting i axraeeway, support ng members for theraceway spaced longitudinally oi? the raceway,

'ne of. the. class described,

. of the raceway comprising meansfor adjusting the upper and lower ends of the raceway means and the raceway at spaced points of i the raceway comprising means. operable to ad ust the ends oil the raceway in the same direction or. in opposite directions.

14;. In a machine, of the cla-ss described afastening.conducting raceway. means for supporting the raceway 'zom 'irislng a meni her movable about an axis disposed substantially pn-rallelto the plane of the fastenings conducted bywtheraeeway, and means or ad- 15. In a' machine oftheclass described,a

justing thefraceway relati iely to the supr.ac,ew-ay,-. means i for supporting the raceway compris ngfa-member movable about an LLXIS disposed substantially parallel to the verti; cal plane of 1 the raceway, snpportlng. memhers connected to; the raceway at. points spaced longitudinally of the raceway, and means for adjusting one of said members relatively to said first-mentioned :member.

16. In a machine-of the class described, a

raceway, a bracket for supporting the race 1 way movable about an axis transverse to the vertical plane of the raceway, and means for adjusting the raceway vertically relatively to the bracket.

17. In a machine ofthe class described, a

the raceway, one of such connections comprising means for adjusting the raceway relatively to the supporting means.

18. I11 a machine ofthe class described, a raceway,supporting means for the raceway adjustable transversely of the plane of fastenings in the raceway, and connections between. the supporting means .and the raceway comprising means for adjusting the raceway relatively to the supporting means.

19. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, means for supporting the raceway, connections between the raceway and the supporting means comprising means for adjusting either end of the raceway rela tively to the supporting means independently of the other, said supporting means being movable to effect bodily adjustment of the raceway.

20. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, and means for supporting the raceway comprising a plate having a stud projecting therefrom, a member pivotally mounted on the stud, a bracket mounted on said member for angular adjustment about an axis disposed substantially at right angles to said stud, and connections between the bracket and the raceway comprising means for adjusting the raceway relatively to the bracket. a

21. In a. machine of the class described,'a raceway and a cover plate for the raceway movable about an axis disposed centrally of the cover plate and extending transversely of the vertical plane of the raceway, said axis constituting the sole support for the cover plate. 7 I g 22. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, a cover plate for the raceway, supporting means for the cover plate movable about an axis disposed transversely of the raceway, and connections between the cover plate and its supporting means constructed and arranged to permit adjustmentof the cover plate relatively to the supporting means.

23. In a machine of the class described, a bracket, a raceway, connections between the raceway and the bracket at spaced points 'justably carried by the bracket.

longitudinally of the raceway and comprismg means for ad usting the ,raceway; relatively to the bracket, and a I cover 2%; In a machine of the class described,a bracket, a raceway, connections between the raceway and .the bracket zit-spaced points longitudinally of the. raceway and comprisingmeans for raising or. lowering oneott pl ate a dthe ends of the raceway, and a cover plate fulcrumed on the bracket for movement in the vertical plane of the raceway. 25. In a machine of the class described, a bracket, a raceway, a cover plate forthc raceway, connections between the raceway and the bracket at spaced points longitudinally of the raceway and comprising means for raising or lowering the raceway relatively to the cover plate, and supporting means for the cover plate constructed to permit vertical adjustment of the cover plate. 26. In a machine ofthe class described, a bracket, a raceway, a cover plate for the raceway mounted on the bracket, connections between the race-way and the bracket at I spaced points longitudinally of the race way and comprising means for raising or lowering the raceway relatively to the cover plate, supporting means for the cover plate constructed to permitadjustment of the cover plate independently of the raceway, and means for adjusting the bracket so as to adjust the raceway without changing the relation of the raceway and cover plate.

27. In amachine ofthe class described, a fastening receiving member having inwardly turned ends .and a raceway, and members detachably connected to one ofsaid parts for conducting fastenings from the raceway to the fastening receiving member.

28. In a machine ofthe class described. a driver guide, a raceway, and members detachably connected to the raceway for conducting fastenings from the raceway to the driver guide.

29. "In a machine of the class described, a raceway constructed and arranged to sup 1 port nails suspended by their heads and hav-' ing removable tips at its delivery end.

"30. In a machine of the class described, a I

fastening receiving member, a raceway, and removable t1ps on the delivery end of the, raceway having their upper surfaces disposed substantially inlalinement with the upper surfaces of the racewayand operable to conduct fastenings supported by their heads from the raceway tothe fasteningreceiving member. I I

81. In a'machine of the class described, a fastening receiving member,-a slotted raceway, and means-for guiding the fa-stenings from the raceway to the fastening receiving member comprising plates detachably connected to the raceway on opposite sides of fastening receiving member a slotted race-- Way,- and :means for conducting 'fastenings from the x-aceway to the fastening receiving member eol nprising plates detachably c0nneeted to the raceway 011 oppositesides of 10 the raceway slot mid having inwardly pro jeeting portions extending across the del'iv my end of the raceway substantially to the end ofsaid slot and lmving their upper sinfaces disposed substantially in line with the upper surface of therace-Way.

In testimony whereof We have signed'oul." names to this specification.

GEORGE GODDU. FRED L. MACKENZIE.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,408,451, granted March 7, 1922, upon the application of George Godclu, of Winchester, and Fred L. Mackenzie, of Beverly, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Nail-Feeding Mechanism, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page'5, line 100, claim 27, after the word member insert a comma and the words a raceway, and members, and lines 101 and 102, strike out the words a raceway, and members; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with th se corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signeol'and sealed this 12th day of September, A. D., 1922.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Gammdssz'oner of Patents. 

